Animated device



y 27, 1953 L. EICKEMEYER 2,835,995

ANIMATED DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12, 1956 I 24 :5 F7 {3 INVENTOR.

HG LUDWIG EICKEMEYER.

ATTORNEY.

United rates 1 ANHMATED DEVICE Application March 12, 1956, Serial No. 570,924

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-426) This invention relates to an animated clock case and more particularly, to a device that is arranged to simulate a rocking motion of the type encountered by sea-going vessels.

Many home furnishing articles, as well as commercial displays, are much more effective if they are accompanied by an automatic movement of some sort. This is particularly true in the case of such articles as clocks, mantle-pieces and childrens lamps. An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an animated display apparatus for clocks and the like, which is simple in construction and effective in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an animated display apparatus in the form of a sea-going vessel that is arranged to produce a simulated pitching movement of sea-going vessels.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a simulated water assembly for use with display apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selectively illuminated display apparatus that may also be selectively animated to provide a rocking effect.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a display apparatus that may be selectively illuminated and animated in such a way as to produce a simulated seagoing effect.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a display apparatus made in accordance with this invention, showing an electric clock mounted thereon, and showing a first extreme position and a second extreme position (in broken lines) of an antimated vessel associated therewith.

ig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, showing the interior arrangement thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front plan view of the eccentric, motion producing, connection between the vessel and base shown in Fig. 2, showing a first extreme position and a second extreme position (in broken lines).

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank used to simulate sea water.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a frame that is used in connection with the blank shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the blank shown in Fig. 4 in assembled position with the frame shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a front view of the device shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit used in connection with this device, showing the switch in open position, with only the associated clock energized; and

Figs. 9, l0 and 11 are schematic diagrams of the selector switch, each view showing a difierent selective position thereof.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a device of the type described is shown to include a base 1 that operaatent Q "ice tively supports an ornament, such as a ship 3 in water, for display purposes. An electrically driven clock 5 may be supported on the hull 7 of the ship in any conventional manner, to provide a useful, as well as an attractive, device.

The base 1 includes a pair of longitudinally disposed side pieces 8, 9 that are connected by transversely extending end pieces 14), 11 to form a rectangularly shaped frame. A recess 12, 13 is provided along the inner peripheral edges of the upper and lower frame surfaces, respectively. The bottom recess 13 is adapted to receive a door section 14 that may be secured thereto in any conventional manner. A trunnion block 15 is secured to the floor section intermediate the longitudinal extrernities thereof and is adapted to receive a connector element 17 that is pivotally secured thereto by means of a transverse pivot pin 18. With the opposite end of the connector 1? received in a corresponding opening 25} in the hull of the ship, it be apparent that the vessel is arranged on the base for oscillating pivotal movement about the pivot pin An access opening 22 in the rear side 9 of the frame facilitates the assembly of the hull to the base since it is aligned with the pivot pin 13?, which may be inserted therethrough into engagement with the connector 17 and the trunnion block 15.

As an alternate method of assembly, the connector 17 may be secured to the trunnion block 15 before attaching the floor 14 to the frame. In this case, the assembled hull, trunnion block and door is inserted through the bottom of the frame as a unit and the floor is removably secured in the recess 13 of the frame, thereby eliminating the need for the access opening 22.

A small electric motor 24, together with suitable reduction gearing, is enclosed within a casing 25 that is secured to the floor 14-, in the space between the trunnion block and end it) of the frame. A pulley 27 that is connected to the output shaft of the motor unit has a pin 29 eccentrically mounted thereon, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. An opening 31 at the stern of the hull rigidlly supports a follower plate 32 that has a longitudinally extending slot 3 that is adapted to receive the eccentric pin 29 therein. It will become apparent, therefore, that as the motor is energized, the eccentrically mounted pin is adapted to rock the hull about its pivot 18, thereby simulating the pitching movement of a seagoing vessel.

A simulated water setting 36 is also provided to mask the space between the hull and the base and to add to the realistic appearance of the device. This setting is constructed of a rectangular frame 37 having a pair of longitudinal side elements 33, that are connected by a pair of transverse end elements 4%, 41, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, and is of an assembled size comparable to the size of the recess 12 in the top of the base It. A sheet 42 of pliable material, which is preferably of blue colored, translucent, vinyl plastic, is adapted to be secured to the frame 37. This sheet has a pair of longitudinal side edges 43, and a pair of transverse edges 45, 46. Both the longitudinal and the transverse dimensions of the sheet are somewhat larger than the corresponding dimensions of the frame. In assembling the two parts, the frame is centered on the sheet and the longitudinal edges 43, 44 of the sheet are secured, such as by stitching or cementing, to the corresponding sides 38, 39 of the frame. The end edges 45, 46 of the sheet are then gathered and similarly secured to the corresponding ends 4%, 41 of the frame, thereby producing a three-dimensional effect, as better shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing.

The center of the sheet 42 is provided with an opening 47 that is adapted to receive the connector block 17 therethrough, and the rearward extremity of the sheet is provided with a narrow slit 48 that isadapted to receive the follower plate 32 therethrough. The water assembly is secured to the vessel along the waterline f the hull 7 by a plurality offastening elements, such as staples 49, as shown in Fig. l, before the hull and connector. are secured to thetmnnion block 15 by the pivot pin 18. After the hulland, the base are assembled, inwhich case the frame 37 is in position with the recess 12in the top of the base, a rectangular molding 'frame' 50 is placed thereover to hide the edges of the plasticsheet 42' and to give the assembly a finished appearance.

it will .be recognized, therefore, that as 'the motor causes the follower plate tobe continuously moved back and forth between the two extreme positions 32, 32a, the hull of the vessel is similarly'caused torock from one extremity '7 to the otherl extremity 7a, respectively, thereby producingthe aforementioned pitching motion. The simulated water assembly 36 is continuously distorted by this movement since it is fixed at the edges to the base 1 and secured at its mid-portion to the hull 7, thereby producing a sea-wave effect with the movement of the hull. This simulated efiect is further enhanced by the provision of a pair of small lamps 51, 52' that are supported beneath the plastic sheet 42 on the trunnion support block 15. These lamps may be selectively energized to provide a soft light that is transmitted through the plastic sheet to lend a ripple efiect to the distorted plastic sheet.

The electrical circuit is controlled through a selectively actuated manual switch 53 that has a set of contact. elements 54 for providing a number of positions. The switch is connected across the electric supply line 55 which supplies the clock and has three closed 'or energizing positions and one open or deenergized position.

This switch is shown in Fig. 8 inthe open or deenergized position, in which position the clock is still energized since it is connected directly across the supply line, as is the case in all positions of the switch. The contact elements 54a are in operative in this position, however,

' to energize the motor 24 or the lamps 51, 52. When the contacts are moved in a counter-clockwise direction to a second position 5412, as shown in Fig. 9, both the motor and the lamps are energized, whereby the device is both animated and illuminated. When the contacts are moved to a third position 540, as shown in Fig. 10, the motor is deenergized while the lights continue to be illuminated. With continued rotation to a fourth position 54d, as shown in Fig. 11, the motor circuit is energized while the lamps are deenergized. .Further rotation of the switch contact elements will restore the contact elements to the initial open position 54a, whereby only the clock remains energized.

While this invention has it is to be understood that such showing is for illustrative purposes only and is notto be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An animated device comprising, in combination,

a base anda boat replica mounted thereon, said base comprising a frame-having spaced sides,-said boat being and said boat comprising a connecting element, a pivot pin disposed within the interior of said base frame'and connectingsaidboatrto said base, and anaccess opening insaid base affording access to the interior of saidbase frame to facilitate assembly of said pivot, pin with said boat and said base.

2. An animated device comprising, in combination, a

- 30' base and a boat replica mounted thereon, said base comprising a frame having. spaced sides, said boat being mounted for oscillating pivotal movementon said base andbetween said spaced sides, .motor means 'operatively connected between said base and said heat to effect said pivotal movement of said boat, a flexible masking element disposed between said base and said boat, the periphery of saidelement being secured to said frame and the center of said element being secured to said boat, whereby the pivotal movement of said boat relative to said base is operative to distort said element to produce a wav like water effect, selective. switch means comprising a first position to deenergize both said, motor and said illuminating means, a second'position to energizev said motor and said illuminating means, a third position to decnergize said motor and energize said illuminating deenergize said illuminatingmeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS Keen i Dec. 3, 1907 1,154,787 McCormick Sept; 28, 1915 1,205,444 Fuller Nov. 21,1916 1,613,941

Churus Ian. 11, 1927 been described with particular v reference to the specific form shown in the drawing, 

